Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-08
WEST POINT DRILL.
THE CADET AT HIS BEST IN
MOUNTED SERVICE EXERCISES.
The Bugle BlIres the Signal Can
noneers Notwithstanding Up to the
Work-A Beleh of Flame and Thunder
Cloud Another Signal

noneers Notwithstanding Up to the
Work-A Beleh of Flame and Thunder
CIoud--AnOther Signal
Sharp at the stroke of 9 the classes are
again in ranks, and the boar Of battery iI1ll
has come. The ~plehae' march stifily out to
The field guns south of camp; the ycarhnga
wheeling into column ol sections, swing
Finntiiy of under ttcir detail OF first class
officers 10 where th, battery horses have
ALREADY been hitched Ia ihe linbers and
caissons out on tho cavalry PLAIN, and th0t
portion oi lie senior lass moi required rs
cr'rta oi platoon on section at the field bat
trtt". Is ALREADY bringing down the winding
patti t" TN, ",ra cu;lst' battery al the waters
e,ige, and presently Sou vail hear :; thunder
ol great guns that will stan all Orange
c"untH-or Mould, hut l0r the barriers OF the
massive hills that shut US i'll on every side.
The ivrlicst spectacle however, is here ON
the plain, for Of all the drills and exercises IN
which the cadet excels he is at his best IN
those Of the mounted service Daring horse-
men are the Youngsters after two years
practice in the riding hall, and light battery
drill is "a famous place tor exhibition.
OFF TO THEIR POSTS.
Watch the boys as they 60 to their stations
The seniors, in their riding dress, gauntlets
aud cavalry saI,eI's swing easily INTO the sad
dies of the somewhat VICIOUS hooking stteds
that ara, held in readiness for them, ADJUST
their stitTups, take preliminary and surrep-
titIuus dig with their spurred heels to test tue
niettle of their nags, then clatter of to their
pests TO look over the horses and drivers Of
their detachments The yearlings IN then
natty shell jackets stand ready at the guns;
the hugle blares the signal "cannoneers
mount" and, like 50 many agile monkeys,
they spring to their seats on the ammunition
chests, and witt another bugle blast, and
'umhle Of hoof and wheel and clink Of truit-
non. away goes the battery down the gray
ally pian.
There are few pre- lnimIi'y moves to warm
hem Gp t. their work: the battery comnIin-
der, "a Young artillery otiirer who knows his
trade, swings them to and fro, faster ana
faster, from one formation 10 other-coumn,
line and hartery-and then, as though or
.lnred to check the advance, Of an enemy
swarInnig up the heights and give blm can
MISTER at short range, With cracking whips
and plunging stet,is aud rattle and roar of
hoof and wheel and hoarse throated com
mands and stirring hug'e peaiS, up the PLAN
| they come at tearing eallop until opposite the
crowd of spectators al the guard tents, when
| tAcre Is "a short, sudden blast simultaneous
| shout from the chiefs vision OF rearing
haSeS as the lieutenaI Is and sergeants hail
| short on line with the brilliant guidon-gen-
orally the most plctunsq sque horSeman OF the
waIiike throng, ami always posted on the
| flank nearest the ladies--a fash OF sabeis in
the air sudden rein in OF the line Of cais-
sons, and gradual settle down to a stand,
long before which, nimhle as cats, the can
nonecrs have sprung from their seats, and are
| streakIng 1t across the gap to where the chiefs
| are seated on their excited chargers